Experimental LCS rescues boaters

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The experimental littoral combat ship Sea Fighter (FSF-1) and crew from Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City, Fla., was involved with the rescue of three boaters whose craft was taking on water last month about 10 miles west of the Clearwater Pass. The Sea Fighter team recovered the trio from the water and transferred them to a Coast Guard 29-foot Response Boat-Small (RB-S) vessel. No injuries were reported. Sea Fighter is an experimental LCS under development by the Navy as part of the Littoral Surface Craft-Experimental (LCS-(X)) program. It’s also referred to as the X-Craft. The FSF-1 crew remains prepared for any scenarios that may arise, said Jeff Spence, master of the Sea Fighter, but it’s “not typically the nature of the Sea Fighter’s mission. Sea Fighter is a test platform of NSWCPC and the Office of Naval Research. (Source: NSWC Panama City 08/11/19) In February 2018, the Navy selected five shipbuilders to compete for 20 next-generation guided-missile frigates (FFG(X)) that will follow the Littoral Combat Ship. The shipbuilders were awarded contracts for conceptual design of the frigates, which the Navy will evaluate ahead of a final request for proposal in 2019 and a contract award in 2020. The five include Austal USA of Mobile, Ala.; Lockheed Martin; General Dynamics Bath (Maine) Iron Works, Fincantieri Marine and Huntington Ingalls Industries of Pascagoula, Miss. Each was awarded $15M contracts for the work.